The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-01
The Story of Tom, Joe and ia Q.
[Salt Lake Tribune,

salt Lake Tribune.
Tom Collette, with two friends whom I
shall christian Joe and Jake, was making
slow and painful journey from Pine Grove,
Esmeralda County, to Eastern Nevada.
They camped one afternoon near some hot
springs not fan from Walker Lake. Discov-
eriDg large hole or pool that was full Of
cold water and convenient TO one of the
hottest OF the hot springs, they turned the
hot water as il flowed out of the spring into
the pool, until the hot and cold water
blending made exactly the right tempera-
ture for bath. This done, they plunged
in and enjoyed the delicious water as only
those can who have travelled some days
over dusty alkali trails in hot weather.
When supper was over and they had lighted
their pipes, the theme OF convers alton for
a long time as they smoked, was the de-
licious bath they had taken and the won
derful sense of refreshmeht it had brought
them. Full of the joy of it, they spread
their blankets on a grassy spot beneath
some willows few yards distant from the
spring, and fell asleep.
Tom was up with the dawn. Recol-
lections of his fine bath of the previous
evening were still fresh in his mind. So,
bounding up from his blankets with skip
and Jump, he plunged into the pool to his
middle. With groan Of agony he sprang
out again with the agility of wildcat.
The hot water had been running all night.
Hours before dawn the cold water pool had
been rendered almost as hot as that of the
hot spring itself. Brief as had been the
period between his entry and his exit,
Toms fair skin was changed to the color of
boiled lobster. He was soon in terrible
state, as the skin was almost sufficiently
cooked to peel of. AS ha asserts he iva
as tender as young pullet that had been
cooked two hours" With infinite care he
drew on his pantaloons and boots, though
he felt as though the cooked flesh was peel
| ing off IN strips wherever his clothing
touched him. Forcing back the tears OF
anguish that were swelling out of his eyes.
| Tom creDt back to camp, Though it was
most difficult thing to do, he put on his old
| time frank smile as he neared the sleeping
place at the willows, for Jake had awakened
and was sitting on his blakeis, gaping and
| stretching.
Seeing Tom approach, Jake asked where
he had been-f he had been out looking
after his ponies. Tom replied that he had
| so enjoyed his bath of the evening before,
| and had been so much benefited by it,
that he could not think Of breaking up
camp without repeating 1t.
Jake" said he, 'it's just lovely" Jake
| did not wait 10 hear more. Bouncing up
| from his blankets be rushed away toward
/ the pool AS swiftly as he could move.
considering the tender condition of his
skin, Tom followed, and lodging behind
q convenient clump of willows, kept covert
| watch. Jake threw off the few duds in
| which be had sept, bounced into the pool,
uttered a yell of mingled anguish and rage,
then clawed his way out upon the green
turf with the celebrity of an adder. AS soon
as he stood erect he began making swift ap-
| plications of his open hands to various
| parts OF his body to arrest the pain, each
| particular square inch of his hide seeming
| TO hurt worse than the other. All this
time he was swearing a blue streak.
Louder and louder rose his voice, as light
began to break upon his mind when Tom
| stepped out from his hiding-place crying:
Hush up! Would you bawl like a bull
calf and give us away, when that other
son-of-a-gun up in camp is not yet cooked?
| You and have had our dose. Man, we
must cook him or we snail never hear the
last OF it!' Soothed by this, Jake carefully
drew on his trousers and shirt and the pair
| leisurely proceeded to camp.
BY this time Joe had commenced to rouse
up. Seeing Tom and Jake approaching he
asked If they had "feand the stock-the
| ponies?"
ponies, no." said Tom, I'VE haven't
been looking for the ponies. We have been
taking bath. Do you think" said he, as
be stood holding his pantaloons away from
the rear of his person, 'do you think we'd
break camp without one more magnificent
swim7 Not much.'
At this Joe sprang mp crying: mot
| much, you bet!" and dashed away toward
| the little pond. AS Joe disappeared behind
the willows Tom sprang for his pistol and
took off all the caps. He and Jake then
secured their own revolvers, Tom crying:
Get your pistol, Jake-quickl There'll be
business when Joe comes back" In about
two minutes Joe did come back. He howl
ing and cursing furiously and, all naked as
he was, never stopped running until he got
his six shooter in his hand.
drop It'll" said Tom, 81 have dead bead
on you and so has Jake. Besides, / took all
the caps off your gus"
The difficulty was amicably settled as
soon as Jake and Tom had related their ex-
perience, The trio took their breakfast